Breast milk

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Hi everyone ,

I'm looking for advice I'm breastfeeding my 5 day old baby girl I've had to express some today as my boobs are so hard and uncomfortable I have stored it in sterilised milk bags and put it in the fridge , however we need to head out tomorrow and instead of me getting boob out all the time in public ect be easier to use my supply in the fridge first just wondering can I take the milk out and pure it in sterilised bottles and let the milk go to room temperature? I understand that once baby has drank from the bottle needs to be drank within one hour, I'm new to this all and my mind has gone blank lol thanks xx

You should not be introducing bottles before 6 weeks. Chances are she will decide that she prefers the bottle and start refusing the breast. You do realise that it is illegal to criticise a women for breastfeeding in public, and that even if your baby is constantly latching and unlatching and refuses to feed under a nursing cover and you have to perform some awkward gymnastics to get into a position that she’ll actually latch in, you still have the legal right to breastfeed in public?

To answer your original question breast milk can be out of the fridge for 6-8 hours but should be used within an hour once she has drunk from the bottle.

I bottle fed through the night from 5 days old with DD due to some medical issues resulting in a stay in A&E. It caused absolutely no problems with establishing BF and after about 5/6 weeks of doing this, when her weight was piling on, I stopped the bottle and then had issues using them again when we wanted to leave her for a bit and she needed to take one.

Cor what it's worth, you get totally used to feeding in public, noone ever looked at me funny as far as I was aware. I sometimes used a lightweight cape thing to cover up (big boobs) but that was personal preference. If you don't feel comfortable then that's absolutely your choice to bottle feed when you're out.

You'll need to pump if you don't feed directly anyway to make sure your supply is there. So basically you're creating your own faffy mountain out of your booby mole hills. I would just feed direct. Sit in the car and feed or take a huge muslin if you're worried about getting it all lined up and people looking. One up one down top method is the most discreet.

Get the boob out- much less trouble! If you're self conscious try feeding in front of a mirror and you'll realise you're already super discrete

You can introduce a bottle whenever you want, but as pp said it could cause problems. We introduced a bottle at 8 days old and never had an issue, but it sounds like you're milk has only just come in so you'll just end up even more engourged if out and about and not feeding directly to relieve pressure.

kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/

In honesty it’s easier to get your boobs out, was my experience.
Neither of mine wanted the bottle etc. Plus supply wise at 5 days it could have an impact. Mine were very much cluster feeding still at this stage, appreciate they’re all different.

You've got it right

• store milk in cool bag and heat up
• use one hour after heating
• store in cool bag for several hours

Introduce the bottle Early or your baby will refuse and you'll be stuck. I followed buildings with child 1 and learnt the hard way.

Try only to express when baby is feeding anyway (if they are taking from a bottle for that feed), otherwise you are telling your body to produce more milk, which may lead to more discomfort for you. You don't want to end up with mastitis!

If you are feeding responsively from the breast (and baby is feeding well/you're not in pain), then you could probably give expressing a miss... But perhaps I don't know the whole story and you've been advised otherwise by the midwife.

There's excellent support available via the National Breastfeeding Helpline - www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/